Writen by Aimen Al-Diwani, IUS Imam Hussain Blood Donation Campaign Coordinator:
On Tues 28th June I attended the 3rd Annual NHSBT Stakeholder Meeting in Central London. It was a very fruitful day, having made use of the stall we were given for networking, increasing exposure and discussing challenges with the executive team.
The theme was Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups’ (BAME) participation; evidence for how highly our work is prioritised within the NHSBT. The day was filled with presentations, speeches and a question time panel. Here are some of the key points I noted:
NHSBT Triennial review (every 3 years, the government audits its different arms, including healthcare), this focuses on effectiveness and fitness for purpose. NHSBT achieved good feedback on this review.
NHSBT spent £15m on IT in the past few months. Over the next 3 years, it will go up to £50m. This is the biggest IT overhaul the NHS has ever seen.
IHBDC is well known amongst NHSBT executives. We were the only Muslim organisation at the event. Similarly, there were other faith groups; it’s clear that faith communities are providing a really important service in this country.
The CEO of NHSBT (Ian Trenholm) gave a very informative presentation with some alarming statistics:
A new blood donor centre is being built in Bradford which NHSBT want to make sure is as accommodating as possible amongst all their donor centres. My opinion was sought with regards to how it should look and notes were taken in terms of the facility layout and atmosphere to ensure it’s comfortable for donors, especially BAME communities. This once again highlighted how influential the IUS campaign has become.
I also learnt a lot about how as volunteers, we are all leaders, irrespective of our position. To make the most of this, we must be authentic leaders. This means allowing our personality and principles to shine through. IT IS POSITIVE AND IT IS IMPORTANT. You don’t need to exaggerate it, but should carry who you are and what activities you do wherever you may be.
Overall, it was clear that the NHSBT and OUR messages are the same, just in different frequencies!
Become a Lifesaver, Give Blood.
